Trashard Mays, a graduate student at New Mexico State University, is using valuable resources provided by Arrowhead Center at NMSU to commercialize vacuum technology developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory that solves a problem scientists and technicians have grappled with for years.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An attorney for a former Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy on Friday questioned prosecutors' motivation in planning to bring a voluntary manslaughter charge against the officer, noting juries twice cleared him of murder charges in the shooting death of a fellow deputy.

Attorney Tom Clark's comments came a day after District Attorney Mark D'Antonio in Las Cruces said his office will seek a grand jury indictment for voluntary manslaughter against Tai Chan. He is accused of opening fire on Deputy Jeremy Martin at a Las Cruces hotel during a work trip.

On average, the number of people shot each year in America is over 116,000 -- that's by murders, assaults, suicide and suicide attempts, unintentional shootings and police interventions. The statistic comes from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and it's one of many points being made in Gun Violence: A Brief Cultural History, an exhibit on display through November 10 at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology on the UNM campus in Albuquerque.

Federal offcials say a new grant will help provide independent monitoring at two national labs and at an underground nuclear waste repository in Southeastern New Mexico. Also, we learn about how a researcher in San Antonio is trying to figure out if tweaking a medicine used to treat a certain type of brain cancer may prolong lives. We also hear about how a national non-profit organization has been in Las Cruces for over 45 years.

The shirts on loan are still too big, but Erik Medrano and Armando Chavez have theirs on order. Medrano and Chavez are freshly graduated high school students and the second pair who have decided to not only pursue a water technology Associate Degree, funded by Las Cruces Utilities (LCU), but also gain a working knowledge of the trade with the LCU Internship Program.

U.S. District Court Judge James O. Browning has granted qualified immunity to two Las Cruces Police Department officers who were sued in federal court for alleged Constitutional violations that happened in April 2016. Here is a statement from the city of Las Cruces:

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Attorney General's Office is accusing a state lawmaker of violating the Legislature's rules of conduct by apparently seeking special treatment when detained by police at a sobriety checkpoint.

The office of Attorney General Hector Balderas on Thursday said it is asking an ethics committee to review conduct by Republican Rep. Monica Youngblood of Albuquerque during her May arrest for drunken driving.

A judge this week found Youngblood guilty of aggravated drunken driving. Youngblood could not be reached immediately for comment.

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — Supervision of Holloman Air Force Base and the 49th Wing assigned to the southern New Mexico base is being shifted from one Air Force command to another.

Holloman officials say on the base's website that the reassignment from the Air Combat Command to the Air Education and Training Command will take place during a ceremony scheduled Friday morning with the change take effect on Monday.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A former senior adviser for President Barack Obama is expected to speak at New Mexico State University next week.

The university says its Interdisciplinary Studies Department and Gender Studies Program has tapped Valerie Jarrett to present at the Women's Leadership Salon. The event is set for Monday evening at the university's College of Health and Social Services Auditorium in Las Cruces.

A recent report by Georgetown University and University of North Carolina shows that Texas has the highest rates of uninsured adults in the nation. KUT's Ashley Lopez reports. In a recent forum of Secretary of State candidates in New Mexico, candidates shared their thoughts on open primaries in New Mexico. Currently, the state has closed primaries. The candidates shared thoughts on this issue at a recent forum on KRWG Public Media. We listen to a preview.

New Mexico is being sued by single mothers and advocacy group claming New Mexico's Children, Youth, and Families Department is illegally denying child care assistance to families with incomes of over 150% of the federal poverty level. We also get a preview of the New Mexico State Auditor's forum airing on KRWG Public Media on television at 7 p.m. tonight.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and the woman who has accused him of sexually assaulting her in high school, Christine Blasey Ford, are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Watch the proceeding live:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A group of single mothers and an advocacy group is suing New Mexico, saying the state's child welfare agency is using vague regulations to deny child care assistance to thousands of low-income families without due process.

The complaint was filed late Tuesday in state District Court by the women and the nonprofit organization OLE.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Two candidates for governor of New Mexico are offering starkly different visions on issues of gun control and public safety in a state where the Democrat-led Legislature has been reticent to approve major restrictions on firearms.

An Associated Press review of all firearms-related legislation by states this year shows largely predictable and partisan patterns, with exceptions such as Florida and Vermont where Republican governors signed sweeping legislation.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's spaceport for vertical rocket and runway launches is asking for a 72 percent increase in funding from the state's general fund for the coming fiscal year.

Spaceport America CEO Dan Hicks was scheduled Wednesday to brief state lawmakers about operations and finances for the southern New Mexico facility.

The Legislature's lead budget-writing committee says the New Mexico Spaceport Authority is seeking a $700,000 increase, starting in July 2019, to its $976,000 annual allowance from the state general fund.

Silver City kicks off new app to fight littering and WNMU regents make changes to President Shepard's performance checkpoints, a Hurley officer is charged with domestic violence, and we get a preview of the Mimbres Valley Harvest Festival.

A new FBI report says New Mexico ranks among the most dangerous states. Gun safety advocates are apploading a decision by Albququerques mayor to end a police shooting championship sponsored by the NRA, Roz Brown with Public News Service reports. Also, commentator Peter Goodman shares his thoughts on the allegations involving Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh that have raised questions.

New Mexico's Spaceport Authority is seeking an increase to it's annual money from the state. Also, with a low unemployment rate some employers are having a hard time finding good employees, Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports on a West Texas help wanted ad that tells the story. Also, commentator Walt Rubel with the Las Cruces Sun-News shares his thoughts on attack ads airing in New Mexico as national parties pour in cash to the US House District 2 race.

Doña Ana County Sheriff’s detectives are questioning one student in relation to a threat towards Chaparral High School Tuesday morning.

The school is now sheltering-in-place, and district officials say students will be released at the normal dismissal time.

Detectives isolated the threat to a group of students that were part of a group message Tuesday morning. One student made threats he was going to initiate a shooting at the school, however no such incident took place. The school was immediately placed on lockdown while the threat was investigated.